Meandering melodrama - Thirumagan
LISTLESS: Thirumagan
Genre: Action
Director: A.M.Ratnakumar
Cast: S.J.Suryah; Meera Jasmine; Vijayakumar; Radha Ravi; Malavika
Storyline: A man who is more an imbecile becomes serious and strong all of a sudden.
Bottomline: Wish you could say something positive!
Nothing noteworthy happens in `Thirumagan' (A) till almost the very end. Suppressing your yawn and ennui, you wait for something substantial to occur in this flashback narration, but writer-director A.M.Ratnakumar, seems bent on not allowing the tale to take off, ever! Inane occurrences go on without a sense of direction in `Thirumagan.' Some respite comes in the last half hour or so, but by then things are already out of hand. How could a producer of longstanding, like Thanu (and his V Creations) have allowed such complacency and lackadaisicalness in the project?
Set in a village, the scene of action is new for hero S.J.Suryah. Otherwise his character is that of the country bumpkin of several films, who suddenly and inexplicably turns heroic. Thangapandian (Suryah) has not one but four girls vying for his attention!
Suryah is loud in dialogue and demeanour. Subtle portrayal has not been his strong point so far. But you see a semblance of credibility in his performance in the final sequence. The actor-director has made dialogue with layered overtones, his forte. He continues in the same vein in `Thirumagan.' Only, this time when you see Meera Jasmine being a part of this typical rigmarole you are shocked and saddened! And it's not just Malavika who looks corpulent. Jasmine is equally so. After a point, the melodrama in `Thirumagan' makes you feel you are watching a mega sob serial on the big screen.
Little respite
Unbelievable stunts (Jaguar Thangam; Gilli Sekar) lend some unintended humour to the serious sequences. And just as you nod your head in appreciation on listening to Deva's lilting title tune, come the sonorous and grating numbers. Festive occasions (which translate into group dances in garish costume) are one too many in `Thirumagan' that you lose count of them. Choreography offers no respite either. Very little sensitivity is seen in the handling of the trauma of the physically challenged girl in `Thirumagan.'
Iota of solace
Forget the story. It has many pitfalls, and anyway there's little to say. Forget the acting.
Except veterans Vijayakumar, Radha Ravi and Ranjith, the other main players show no skill. (Sad that the unstinting support of experienced actors comes to nought in `Thirumagan.')
Forget the screenplay. It plays no part here. Forget the dialogue. It abounds in thoroughly unpalatable double entendres. Forget the suggestive movements in dance and romance. They are best ignored. So then, what remains? Just the last few moments that offer an iota of solace to the viewers' by now utterly bruised senses.
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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